The city of Mandeville is moving to condemn and eventually demolish three blighted homes whose owners have been unresponsive to demands that the properties be improved. The City Council has scheduled public hearings Thursday night to allow owners to show cause why the structures should not be condemned.

Mayor Pro Tem Clay Madden said the council has three options with each home: declare the property unsafe and order the demolition process to begin; determine that the property is not blighted and take no further action; or give the owner an extension with strict guidelines on when the property must be improved.

Madden said this marks the first time the city has moved to condemn property since 2007, which was before the existing council was seated and before Mayor Donald Villere took office.

City Attorney Edward Deano said the Mandeville government became aggressive in dealing with blighted properties several years ago when the city had a list of about 20 homes that were in very bad shape. By working with the property owners, the city has been able to whittle the list down to five, three of which are on the agenda for Thursday night's regular City Council meeting.

The properties are at 3341 Ave. C; 535 Kleber St.; and a structure near the intersection of Girod and Monroe streets whose municipal address the city was not able to determine.

Villere said the city has contacted the owners numerous of blighted houses in an effort to have them clean up the properties, some of which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In many cases, the owners have responded while some "have ignored the city's efforts," he said. "We've got to do something with these properties. There are some owners we need to nudge a little more."

Kleber Street house in Mandeville that could be condemned by the City Council Thursday night.Kim Chatelain, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

If the city is forced to stabilize or demolish any of the homes, the cost will be added to the owner's property tax bill, the mayor said.

Madden said assistant city attorney Laurie Pennison will present the condemnation cases Thursday night and property owners or their representatives will be able to address the council before a vote is taken. The council's decision is subject to a court appeal, Deano said.

Villere said since taking office in 2010, he has made attacking blight in the city a priority. He credited Chris Brown, who heads up code enforcement, with working to eliminate the problem. "We've taken a good bit of blight out of our area," Villere said.

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Mandeville City Hall, 3101 East Causeway Approach.